Paula Mejia appears before Brown County court via Zoom, January 10, 2024. (Brown Co. court/Zoom)
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A suspect in a fatal drunk driving crash is expected to be convicted Friday.
Paula Mejia, 48, is expected to plead no contest to homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle, and injury by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle for the April 12 crash in Lawrence which killed a man and injured his son.
Two other charges would be dismissed as part of the plea deal.
According to the plea negotiations summary, prosecutors would ask for a total of ten years in prison and ten years of extended supervision, while the defense could argue for a lesser sentence. The judge would not be bound by those recommendations, and could impose the maximum sentence, which would be 37.5 years in prison system (initial confinement and extended supervision combined).
If the pleas are accepted, a sentencing hearing would be scheduled.
According to the criminal complaint, police responded to French Road and Little Rapids Road for a two-vehicle crash.
Mejia’s SUV was on its roof and on fire. An officer removed her from the SUV. The other vehicle was also damaged. The dad was pronounced dead at the scene, while the teen was taken to a hospital.
Witnesses at the scene said Mejia had been drinking at a work party at one place and then drinking at a second pub.
Mejia told police she had two beers. Because of her injuries, officers did not perform a field sobriety test. She declined to have a blood draw done, so a warrant was obtained. Results of the test are not cited in the complaint.
The 14-year-old suffered two broken femurs, a broken elbow and broken wrist.
Mejia had a valid driver’s license. Online court records do not show any previous criminal or traffic citations for Mejia.
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